08 May 2008

Disclosure returns lodged with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) following the 2007 federal election will be released for public inspection on Monday 12 May 2008. The returns will be available on the AEC website at http://fader.aec.gov.au/ from 9am (AEST).

The returns cover receipts and expenditure by candidates, Senate groups and donors in relation to the recent federal election.  Disclosure requirements are as follows:

Candidates	The total of all donations received and used to fund their campaign, along with details of donations received where they total more than $10,500 from a single source. Totals of electoral expenditure under specified categories. Officially endorsed candidates may submit a ‘nil return’ and roll their reporting into their annual party return due for release in February 2009 if their financial transactions were the responsibility of a party committee. Out of 1421 candidates who stood at the recent federal election, more than 1000 nil returns were received.
Senate groups	The reporting requirement is the same as for candidates. If a Senate group is endorsed by a single political party their reporting will appear with annual party returns due for release in February 2009.
Donors	Donations totalling more than $10,500 made to an individual candidate, and donations received totalling more than $10,500 from a single source that were used in turn to fund donations to an individual candidate must be reported.

Third parties involved in campaigns related to the 2007 federal election, such as unions or employer groups, do not have any election disclosure obligations as part of the 12 May release, but may be required to lodge annual returns of political expenditure.

Information on election return requirements for candidates, Senate groups and donors, and further disclosure information including annual return requirements are available at:
http://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/Political_Disclosures/index.htm

Note: The latest annual returns (2006-07) were issued on the AEC website on 1 February 2008. Annual disclosure returns for political parties, donors, associated entities and third parties relating to the 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 financial year will be released online in February 2009.

Media enquiries:
Phil Diak
Director Media
Ph: 02 6271 4415
Mobile: 0413 452 539

Bernadette O’Meara         
Assistant Director Media
Ph: 02 6271 4724   
Mobile: 0413 452 530